F-18 Engine Explodes On Aircraft Carrier Deck; 11 Sailors Injured

The Navy announced that 11 sailors suffered injuries March 30th 2011 while one of the engine on a F/A-18C they were working on blew up. The incident occurred on the flight deck of the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier which was taking part in an exercise off the coast of south California coast. The F/A-18C Hornet that was involved in the incident was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101. The explosion of one of the F/A-18C General Electric F404-GE-402 engines and the short fire that ensued caused 4 sailors to be medical-evacuated to Naval Medical Center in San Diego where three have remained hospitalized in stable condition. The incident is currently under investigation.